Yeah, covering every vent with mesh is a pain, but man, the amount of squirrel nests I’ve cleared out over the years... it’s worth it. I see folks skip corners and then end up with raccoons or birds tearing through their insulation. One time, a client had bats squeezing in through a gap smaller than my thumb—never underestimate how creative critters can get. It’s tedious, but like you said, chasing down leaks and patching up chewed wires later is way worse.
I hear you on the tedious part—mesh everywhere feels like overkill until you see what gets in otherwise. I’ve always wondered, though, is there a type of vent cover that actually holds up long-term? I’ve tried a few brands and some seem to rust out or get chewed through after a couple seasons. Anyone found something that lasts, especially in wetter climates?
Stainless steel mesh has been the only thing that’s really held up for me, especially in the Pacific Northwest where it’s wet half the year. Galvanized stuff just rusts out, and plastic gets brittle or chewed up by squirrels—those little guys are relentless. I’ve seen some folks double up with a fine mesh inside a heavier gauge, but honestly, if you go with marine-grade stainless, you’ll probably only have to think about it once every decade or so. Not cheap, but neither is replacing chewed-up soffits every spring...
if you go with marine-grade stainless, you’ll probably only have to think about it once every decade or so. Not cheap, but neither is replacing chewed-up soffits every spring...
Is there a specific gauge you’ve found works best for keeping critters out but still lets enough airflow through? I’ve seen some mesh that looks almost too fine—wondering if that ever causes ventilation issues, especially in wetter climates like ours.
Is there a specific gauge you’ve found works best for keeping critters out but still lets enough airflow through? I’ve seen some mesh that looks almost too fine—wondering if that ever causes ventilation issues, especially in wetter climates like ours.
I’ve wondered the same thing, honestly. We used 1/4" hardware cloth on our last job, but I did notice the attic felt a bit stuffier than expected. Maybe it was just a humid week, but could the mesh size actually restrict airflow that much? Has anyone tried a slightly larger gauge and still managed to keep out squirrels or birds? Curious if there’s a sweet spot between airflow and critter-proofing…